Updates, updates, updates...

Here are some newly completed pieces you first saw in earlier blogs. Remember those chairs with the cane seats that had "blown-up" (April 17th's blog). Well look at the cane seats now...good as new again! These chairs have navigated the challenges through several generations already; they have the battle scars to prove it. Yes, they would definitely benefit from some cleaning-up, but it's not going to happen this time around. Nevertheless, it is unanimous--I heard it from them!--they're happy to be going home.

And...do you remember the 60's-styled solid Mahogany lamp table? As I mentioned in the previous blog, it appears to have been a high school shop project for a student (John Toohey...anybody know him?). Well, here's that project some 40 years later and it's pretty nicely weathering life's storms, wouldn't you agree? I wonder what John would think of it know? Nice job John. Memories, memories--yes, wood does talk!

In the final stages of this finishing process I stumbled into a reeeeely bad case of "fish eyes." They're never any fun. In this case I believe I know why it happened, but as a result I had to do a lot of heavy duty buffing to lessen the damage. For your information, "fish-eyes" are a circular rumpling of a still wet newly applied surface finish. It's caused when oily-type impurities have penetrated the finish surface of the wood to lurk on or just beneath it's surface and "rumple" the wet finish--it's a reaction kind of like an oil on water phenomenon. Once they appear there's little a finisher can do but start all over again...or invest a lot of time and energy through several surface applications and buffing, buffing, buffing. Even then the final surface product often remains mildly compromised. Here, below, is a close-up picture of what these "eyes" looked like staring up at me from the piece's surface. Ugh, but I did a good job softening their stare this time. I think we foiled em. Ha. They won't painfully detract from the color and depth of the Mahogany's beauty.

OK...that's WoodTalkin for this morning. Keep listening for those fun whispers.

Dick

Incoming...

Of course we've all stood in line. We started doing it in Kindergarten, but then nobody every told us we were developing a skill we'd be using for the rest of our lives. Now some of us are better at it than others. These pieces have just joined the Que-- newest additions to the shop's lineup. 

This little quarter sawn cherry record cabinet (below) displays it's wonderful veneer inlay--it's already a beauty. We're going to gently restore it to it's former magnificence.

 This little SOLID mahogany lamp table (below) appears to have been a high school shop project. As with all of us its lines clearly date it, but it will go nicely with the color and finish of the recliner it's being paired with.

That's Wood Talkin' for now. Keep listening. 

Red Oak Library Table

This beautiful old Mission-styled table glows again. In keeping with it's near antique status the choice was to remove the rings from the top of the table as best we could. That was done primarily with commercial grade bleach (and a lot of patient perseverance). Then the goal was to restore continuity of color and patina to the top. Sanding a jewel like this is an effort of only the very last resort, so in this case it was kept to a bare minimum--only as needed to support that color continuity effort.

So, what you see here (below) is what you get. The dark rings are 95% gone; a mere shadow remains of their haunting "before" presence. (Of course our customer will pass final judgment on this outcome.) What you see in the pictures is finished in a fine "hard" oil then waxed and buffed to a soft patina typical of the antique world. It's a finish that is easy to maintain with the quarterly application of some good quality furniture polish (Guardsman polish is recommended). It will feed the wood and keep it from drying in Colorado's semi-arid climate.

Here's a fun observation made along the way. As the table was originally being fabricated (probably @ 1940), its drawer bottom was cut just a smidgen too small. As a result the bottom didn't fit tightly into the grooves designed to hold it. The weight of the drawer's contents then tended to warp downward. (Check out the little pic, right. See the gap!?) Wow, isn't it interesting that even back then they had an occasional "bad day." Haaa, in April, 2012, we fixed it. Super.

That's Wood Talkin' for today. Keep listening!

At the Door...

New arrivals this past week or so include...
Four wonderful antique red oak dining chairs and a wonderful antique red oak library table. Yes, these have their own stories to tell, and yes, a great part of their stories is in the obvious scars they have to show for the tales.

So, we'll be back...and keep listening.

"...home again, home again, jiggidy jig."

She was in the shop for several weeks... and what do I do when a furniture "friend" is all spiffyed up and talkin about wanting to go home? I whisk her home of course!

Check out these pics. Can't you almost hear her breathing multiple long sighs of red mahogany satisfaction? "Ahhhh....I'm home!" Alas, here she is back at home in her familiar spot, bearing her lamp on revitalized legs, with one new brass "slipper,"and all of em refitted, integrated parts and pieces contributing a newly restored and deep sense of self-esteem and pride. It's one of those "feel good" stories--and a shared satisfaction that I'm quite pleased to have had a part in.

That's Wood Talkin...for today. Keep listening.

Update on the Duncan Pfyfe Lamp Table

These pictures will tell the story here. So, right, is a poor quality but effective picture of what were probably a puppy's "love bites" on one of the legs. Most of that scarring was removed in the stripping and surface renewal process (below left), but given the table's heirloom status, with all the stories it can tell, the tooth marks were carefully "edited" so family members can still find and revisit the puppy's memory--but in a way the table "wants to tell it."

Here is the promise of a new Pfyfe foot. You can see the broken one with it's strong down angular lines behind the block of Maple. You can also see the outline of the new foot penciled into the Maple block's surface. It's ready to be cut out and shaped for placement and gluing as a Pfyfe-styled foot.


Finally, below, is the stained and sealed table as it looks just before the lacquer finish coat and hand rubbing. It appears almost like knew--almost. (That broken foot is on the one you seen on the right.) The table retains it's heirloom integrity with the stories that compliment it. It stands proudly at attention anticipating a handsome new hand-rubbed lacquer finish. It's a promise in the making, and deservedly so!

Duncan Phyfe Styled Lamp Table

This cute little jewel has curves in all the right places. She's been in the customer's family, so despite her collection of blemishes and "wrinkles" she owns a respected place in the dining-living area of their home. As you may be able to see, she originally radiated Red Mahogany from underneath a factory lacquered finish. Even as I was transporting her to the shop she brimmed with excitement and enthusiasm--obviously anticipating her timely face-lift.

Here are some close-ups of her distinguishing characteristics, but take a good look because in less than ten days you won't recognize her. Here's an accurate pic of the way her top surface looks now (right), and (above, left) her pedestal base and upper leg structure (Yes, I know that's embarrassing--She's really shy!). She has a broken leg too (left, below...Wow, that looks painful), and somewhere along the path of her "world travels" she lost one foot and a "slipper"...(I told her an alligator story won't work here).

...and yes, that's a close-up (below) of one of her brass "slippers." These are genuine antiques, so the replacement will be a reproduction--but an excellent one. Nobody will ever know the difference--(and, shush...nor will she).


That's Wood Talking for today. Check back; we're gonna have so much fun!